Tiltable hopper elevator apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided elevator apparatus of the kind for transferring grain or other flowable solids material commencing from a rearwardly trailing hopper tiltably positionable at ground level and thence progressively forwardly through: a feeder-auger conveyor, a hollow junction-box enclosing the rearwardly trailing portion of an independently powered main-conveyor, and ultimately to a solids depository. Several noteworthy features of the elevator apparatus herein include: a highly functional fixed angular relationship between the feeder-auger and the entire hopper assembly, the said combination being pivotably tiltably connected to the junction-box along a loftily disposed transversely extending pivot-axis whereby the feeder-auger delivery spout is located directly above the main-conveyor enclosed trailing portion; inter-conveyors power transmission means commencing from the main-conveyor externally of the junction-box and including universal joint means whereby the power transmission is effective through a range of feeder-auger tilted positions; and means for remotely tilting the feeder-auger and hopper to a selectable degree about said pivot-axis.

United States Patent n91 Brink 1March 20, 1973 TILTABLE HOPPER ELEVATOR APPARATUS [76] .lnventor: Cecil A. Brink, RFD No. l,- Archer,

Nebr. 68816 [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1972 2 11 Appl. No.: 224,567

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter AttorneyGeorge R. Nimmer 57 ABSTRACT There is provided elevator apparatus of the kind for transferring grain or other flowable solids material commencing from a rearwardly trailing hopper tiltably positionable at ground level and thence progressively forwardly through: a feeder-auger conveyor, a hollow junction-box enclosing the rearwardly trailing portion of an independently powered main-conveyor, and ultimately to a solids depository. Several noteworthy features of the elevator apparatus herein include: a highly functional fixed angular relationship between the feeder-auger and the entire hopper assembly, the said combination being pivotably tiltably connected to the junction-box along a loftily disposed transversely extending pivot-axis whereby the feeder-auger delivery spout is located directly above the main-conveyor enclosed trailing portion; inter-conveyors power transmission means commencing from the main-conveyor externally of the junction-box and including universal joint means whereby the power transmission is effective through a range of feeder-auger tilted positions; and means for remotely tilting the feeder-auger and hopper to a selectable degree about said pivot-axis.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEr-minmzoms 3 7 1,332 SHEET 30F 3 F/G. 6/] M TILTABLE HOPPER ELEVATOR APPARATUS There are in the prior arttiltablehopper elevator apparatus comprising a pair of elongate conveyors and intervening hollow junction-box for transferring grain or other flowable solids material from a relatively rearwardly trailing hopper tiltably positionable at ground level to a forwardly remote solids depository. With such prior art structures, grain is dumped (as from a truck) into the hopper and is moved with a feederauger forwardly toward a main-conveyor that is normally upwardly and forwardly inclined from the intervening junction-box. The hopper portion is adapted to lie in a horizontal plane so as to be positionable across the pathway of a dumping truck vehicle. Because of the inherent tendency of the hopper to block the desired path of a dumping truck, it can be very difficult to maneuver a grain truck so that its rearward cargo box will be precisely stationed to dump grain into the lowered hopper. For this reason, there has been recognized the necessity for providing a dual-conveyors elevator apparatus having an upwardly tiltable hopper which may be readily raised temporarily from horizontal or ground-level position on the vehicle pathway to a raised position sufficiently upright so as to give pathway clearance to an approaching cargo truck.

Most prior art workers have utilized a tiltable relationship between the feeder-auger and the junction-box which allows pivotal tilting for the feeder-auger and hopper combination and which also allows various angular inclinations to be used for the independently powered main-conveyor.

However, efiorts to make tiltable hopper elevator apparatus have heretofore met with many frustrations, and particularly have necessitated sacrificing desirable free-flow of the solids through the junction-box. Oftentimes, the tiltable connection and/or the power transmission means has resulted in such retardation of the solids flow rate that power expenditures have had to be drastically increased. There has been especial difficulty in providing power transmission means from the independently powered main-conveyor to the feeder-auger. Some prior art power transmission means in themselves are within the junction-box and, not only retard the solids flow, but sometimes are so crude as to cause abrasive damage to grain or other fragile cargo. Moreover, some power transmission means interfere with the pivotal tilting of the feeder-auger and some are restricted to very moderate inclinations for the mainconveyor. There has too been difficulty in-providing powering means suitable for pivotably tilting the feeder-auger and the attached trailing hopper. For example, elaborate and inefficient counter-balances and springs have been employed for this purpose.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to provide a tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of the dual-conveyors and junction-box variety that overcomes the several disadvantages and deficiencies of prior art tiltable structures.

It is another object to provide a hopper for an elevator apparatus wherein the conveyor means portion thereof is pivotably tiltable over an unusually wide range of angular changes.

It is yet another object to provide a reliable powering 7 means which might be used for remotely tilting the hopper and to a selectable degree therefor.

.It is a further object to provide a tiltable hopper elevator apparatus wherein the grain or other conveyable solids is permitted to flow smoothly and expeditiously through the intervening junction-box portion thereof and without damage thereto.

It is yet another object to provide a power transmission means which commences from the main-conveyor remote of the junction-box and extends to the feederauger, said power transmission means being non-interfering to the tiltable connection between the junctionbox and feeder-auger and being operable through a wide range of tilted angular relationships for the feederauger, and for the main-conveyor.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the tiltable hopper elevator apparatus generally comprises an upper opening for the junction box located loftily above both the junction-box floor and the main-conveyor trailing portion enclosed therewithin, a lofty transversely extending pivot-axis for the pivotably tiltable connection between the feeder-auger and the junction-box and located nearer to the junction-box upper opening than to the mainconveyor housed trailing-portion, the inter-conveyors power transmission means being located externally of the main-conveyor said enclosed portion and specifically commencing from the main-conveyor externally of the junction-box and comprising suitable universal joint means located relatively close to the feeder-auger and in elevation substantially at the said pivot-axis.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall side elevational view of the tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of the present invention, and in typical employment with a farm tractor drayage and powering means. In this and other drawing Figures, a relatively upwardly tilted selected condition for the feeder-auger (e.g. 35) and the attached trailing hopper (eg 40) is shown in solid lines, while a selected rearwardly downwardly tilted condition thereof is shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along lines 2-2 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGS. 2, 6A, and 6B.

FIG. 3A is a detail view of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional plan views taken along lines 4A4A and 43-48, respectively, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional elevational views taken along lines 66 of FIG. 3; FIG. 6A indicates the hopper and feeder-auger in an upwardly tilted condition, while FIG. 68 indicates a substantially horizontally-lowered condition therefor.

As readily seen from FIGS. 1-3, the representative embodiment of the tiltable hopper elevator apparatus generally comprises: a hollow junction-box 20 having a forward side 21, a rearward side 22, an upper opening 26, and a lower side 25 herein having a lower-rearward skid means (such as wheels 25W for resting stably against the earths surface G); an elongate main-conveyor herein as a main-auger 10 extending along a substantially linear main-axis 10A and passing through the junction-box forward side 21 whereby a rearwardly trailing portion 1ST thereof is housed or enclosed within junction-box 20 vertically below upper opening 26 and nearer to the lower side 25 thereof, main-conveyor being independently powerablc (as from a relatively forward drayage tractor 9); an elongate feeder-auger 35 attached to a relatively trailing hopper 40 and'adapted to convey grain or other flowable solids substantially linearly as along feeder-axis 30A from a relatively trailing hopper 40 to the junction-box upper opening 26, a relatively forward leading portion 31F of the feeder-auger 35 being pivotably tiltably attached along a transversely extending pivot-axis'32 to junction-box 20, said pivot-axis being disposed loftily above and remotely from the main-conveyor enclosed portion 1ST; and inter-conveyors power transmission means commencing from the main-conveyor externally of its enclosed portion 1ST to the feeder-auger and comprising suitable universal joint means disposed in elevation and alignment with the pivot-axis whereby the interconveyors power transmission means does not interfere with the pivotal tilting of the feeder-auger nor with its tubular housing 11. Preferably, there is a plurality of serially connected universal joints including a first-joint 52 in transverse alignment with pivot-axis 32.

The elongate main-conveyor 10 is intended to convey grain or other flowable solids forwardly away from the lower internal portion of junction-box 20 to a selected depository for the solids. The main-conveyor is customarily employed in oblique relationship to the earths surface G, such as extending forwardly and upwardly from the junction-box forward end 21, the angle of inclination being typically governed by the connection employed between the main-conveyor and some forward support, such as drayage tractor 9. Herein, main-conveyor 10 takes the form of an elongate helical main-auger extending along lineal main-axis 10A through junction-box ends 21 and 22 and including a rearward trailing end 15R located rearwardly of the end 22. The main-auger enclosed portion 1ST is rotatably associated with the junction-box and lies parallel along the planar lower side 25 thereof. Thus, as main-auger 15 is caused to revolve about main-axis 10A, as by means of a suitable power-take-off source from tractor 9, the main-auger enclosed portion 1ST rides substantially along panar panel 25 to convey flowable solids forwardly therefrom along 10A. There is a circularly tubular housing 11 for main-auger 15 which is secured at a fixed angle to junction-box 20, herein the housing rearward trailing end 11R being secured to the junction-box forward side 21. Thus, the junction-box forward side 21 changes in vertical elevation whenever there is effected a change of angular inclination of main-conveyor 10 with respect to underlying substrate G i.e. at lower-rearward skid 25W.

The elongate helical feeder-auger 35 is intended to convey grain or other flowable solids from the integrally attached relatively trailing hopper (when at tiltably lowered condition) along feeder-axisA and thence outwardly of feeder-auger delivery outlet 30F which is near junction-box upper opening 26. Thus, the grain falls vertically from delivery spout 30F through junction-box upper opening 26 to impinge upon the main-conveyor enclosed portion e.g. 1ST. There is a circularly tubular shell or housing 31 for feeder-auger which is secured at a fixed angle to hopper 40,

herein the housing trailing end 31R being secured to hopper forward leading side 41. The underside of feeder housing 31 at the forward leading end 31F thereof is near spout 30F. There is a pivotally tiltable connection, which transversely extends along pivotaxis 32, between junction-box 20 and the feeder-conveyor housing 31 near the leading end 31F thereof. The lofty pivot-axis 32 is disposed above the main-auger enclosed portion 1ST and even above the junction-box upper opening 26. Herein, there are lugs 23E and 24E each extending integrally upwardly fromthe opposite junction-box sides 23 and 24 and intersecting with pivot-axis 32. There is a three-wings clevis 34, the rightward and central wings thereof being rigidly attached (as by welding) to feederauger shell 31 on the opposite transverse sides of feeder-axis 30A. Pivot pins 33, each lying along pivot-axis 32, pivotably connect the rightward and leftward wings of clevis 34 to the respective lugs 23E and 24E thereby making feederauger 35 (and its connected trailing hopper 40) pivotably tiltable at pivot-axis 32 with respect to junction-box 20. As is indicated in FIG. 2, the feeder-auger delivery outlet 30F remains vertically aligned with the main--auger enclosed portion 1ST through various pivotably tilted degrees of feeder-auger 35. Herein, axes 10A and 30A remain in the same vertical plane during tilting.

There are interconveyors power transmission means extending from the independently powerable mainconveyor to the feeder-auger 35 thus causing its rotation about feeder-axis 30A. The inter-conveyors power transmissionmeans is located wholly remote from that portion (e.g., 1ST) of the main-conveyor which is enclosed within junction-box 20, thereby not interfering with the path of conveyable solids flowing downwardly from the feeder-auger outlet 30F to the said enclosed portion 1ST. It is important that the inter-conveyors power transmission means does not interfere with the pivotal tilting of feeder-auger 35 about pivot-axis 32; moreover, the transmission means should remain capable of actuating feeder-auger 35 even though it be moderately tilted about pivot-axis 32. In this vein, the power transmission means commences from the mainconveyor externally of the junction-box enclosed portion (1ST) thereof and preferably includes universal joint means disposed in substantial transverse alignment with pivot-axis 32. Preferably, there are serially connected universal joints, herein as 53 and as 52 (at 32), which are interposed between a pair of drive shafts; first-shaft 54 remains parallel to main-auger 15 and second-shaft 51 remains parallel to feeder-auger 35.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, first-shaft 54 is revolvably secured through a pair of pillow blocks 54A as bearing housings to an elevated location ofjunctionbox 20 whereby first-shaft 54 remains parallel to mainauger l5. Extending rearwardly of junction-box rearward panel 22 in a double-slotted mounting is an adjustable jack shaft 29 which carries revolvable sprockets 57A and 57B. Annular chain 58 connects sprocket 57A to a sprocket 59 carried at the mainauger trailing end 15R, and annular chain 56 connects sprocket 578 to a sprocket 55 carried at the first-shaft 54 rearward trailing end. Second-joint 53 is connected to the forward leading end of first-shaft 54, and a shortshaft 53A connects second-joint 53 to first-joint 52, which is connected to the trailing end of second-shaft 51. Second-shaft 51 is revolvably secured to a frontal portion of clevis 34 whereby lofty second-shaft 51 remains parallel to and leftwardly offset of feederauger 35. The forward leading end of second-shaft 51 carries a sprocket 51A which is connected by annular chain 518 to a sprocket 35F carried at the forward leading end of feeder-auger 35. Thus, as feeder-auger 35 and clevis 34 are pivotably tilted about pivot-axis 32, along which first-joint 52 lies, revolvable secondshaft 51 also pivots and remains parallel to feederauger 35 and motive power is transmitted from mainauger through universal joints 53 and 52 and chain 518 to feeder-auger 35.

As has already been alluded to, a trailing portion of the feeder-auger 35 has an elongate hopper 40 connected thereto whereby the feeder-auger and the hopper are together pivotably tiltable at junction-box about pivot-axis 32. Hopper 40 has a lower side 47 adapted to abuttably rest against the substantially horizontal substrate G so that the lowered hopper can receive grain or other flowable solids from an elevated source, such as the cargo box of a dump truck. Yet, preparatory to positioning of a cargo box above the hopper,- the hopper and feeder-auger combination must be tilted about pivot-axis 32 and upwardly away from substrate G to allow the truck to pass across the intended position for the lowered hopper. Thus, the degree-of-tilt for the feeder-auger about the pivot-axis needs to be in excess of 100. The hopper necessarily includes a hopper-conveyor means, such as helical hopper-auger 45 extending along hopper-axis 40A, to convey the flowable solids toward hopper leading end 41 where feeder-auger 35 can relay same along feederaxis A and into junction-box 20. For efficient solids conveyance, and as seen in FIGS. 4A-4B, the leftward 43 and the rightward 44 elongate sides of hopper 40 converge downwardly toward lower side 47 and the helical flighting of hopper-auger .45 is adapted to ride along said lower side 47. Since the hopper-axis 40A of the abuttably lowered hopper lies below the elevation of pivot-axis 32, feeder-axis 30A (which is herein coplanar with axes 10A and 40A) slopes upwardly and forwardly of the lowered hopper forward end 41. In this vein, the rearward trailing end 31R of feeder-auger housing 31 is rigidly attached at a fixed angle of about 10 to hopper forward end 41.

There are herein universal joint means (48) to provide co-rotatability between feeder-auger and hopper-auger 45. The helical flighting of augers 35 and 45 at universal joint 48 are preferably structurally reinforced and each flight partially longitudinally spans (but is radially spaced from) the said joint. In this way, free-flow of solids past joint 48 is promoted. The hopper-auger rearward end 45R is revolvably secured to the hopper rearward trailing end 42, and a central portion of hopper-auger 45 (herein between hopper ends 41 and 42) is revolvably secured at bearing C. Feeder-auger 35 passes through an opening of hopper forward end 41 and there is a universal joint 48 located substantially at 41 for connecting the feeder-auger shaft trailing end 35R to the hopper-auger shaft leading end F.

Although it is possible to utilize prior art counterbalances and springs to allow manual initiation at the hopper of tilting forces about pivot-axis 32, the preferred means is remotely actuatable such as com prising a hydraulically actuatable piston which might be powered and controlled (as through hoses 60M and 60N) from the remotely positioned tractor 9. Herein, the piston 60 lies rightwardly of and parallel to the vertical plane passing through axes 10A and 30A, the piston forward leading casing 61 being pivotally attached to a lug 24F that extends rigidly transversely from junction-box forward end 21 and rightwardly beyond 24. The rearwardly trailing end of piston plunger 62 is pivotably associated (at 62A and 67A) with a U-shaped yoke 65. Yoke 65 herein comprises a transversely extending upper portion 66 and a pair of legs 67 depending therefrom, the respective legs 67 remote of 66 being pivotably attached with transversely extending pivot-rod 67A to the rearward external side 22 of junction-box 20. There is an elongate Iifterarm 68 lying along the plane of 10A and 30A and having its leading end 68F slidably engaged along a longitudinally extending slide-way 31W carried along the underside of feeder-auger housing 31. A medial portion of lifterarm 68 is pivotably attached by a transversely extending pivot pin 68A to a pair of opposed lugs 66A extending upwardly of yoke portion 66. A longitudinally extending slotted bracket 66B is attached to yoke member 65 between lugs 66A; the lifter-arm trailing end 68R is secured by transversely extending bolt 69 to a selected longitudinal position of bracket 66B thereby providing a degree-of-tilt regulation means for feederauger 35 about pivot-axis 32. Thus, if the feeder-auger and hopper be at a relatively lowered condition (indicated in phantom line) and with the piston 60 relatively extended as in FIG. 68, then if the piston 60 is shortened, yoke 65 pivots at 67A and the upper transverse portion 66 moves forwardly and closer to junction-box rearward end 22. Coincidentally, lifter-arm 68 pivots at its leading end 68F, said end 68F pushing against tubular housing 31 while moving along theslide-way 31W toward 31F thereby pivotably tilting feeder-auger 35 (and the attached trailing hopper 40) about pivot-axis 32 in the FIG. 3 counterclockwise direction. This tilting action is reversible (i.e. initiatable in the FIG. 3 clockwise direction) to attain the relatively lowered condition (FIG. 6B) commencing from a relatively elevated condition (FIG. 6A).

For ordinary double-acting pistons (60) of a constant stroke length, it is desireable to employ plunger stroke dissipation means lest the degree-of-tilt regulation means be damaged. For this reason primarily, the pivotal connection between the piston plunger 62 and the yoke 65 is preferably through a slideable-lug 64 which is slidably engaged alongside the rightward yoke leg 67. In this way, the plunger stroke length in excess of that needed to pivotably tilt the feeder-auger to the desired regulated degree will be directed along and dissipated through the slidable-lug 64.

A pivotal lid 70 might be utilized to cover the rearward portion of the junction-box upper opening 26 throughout permitted pivotably tilted positions of feeder-auger 35 thereby ensuring that flowable solids emerging from delivery outlet 30F will fall downwardly into the junction-box. Herein, there is a transversely extending pivot-pin 7] connecting the rearward portion of lid 70 to the upper-rearward portion ofjunction-box 20. A tension spring 72 maintains lid 70 against the underside of feeder-auger housing 31 during pivotal movements thereof about pivot-axis 32.

If the entire assembly A is to be transported from one working site to another, as by tractor 9, this is best done when the feeder-auger and hopper are in an upwardly tilted condition away from earth G. In this vein, a telescoping stabilizer-arm 80 might be removably attached to hopper 40 at 82 and also removably attached to a slideable girth-band 81 along the main-conveyor tubular housing 11.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the tiltable hopper elevator apparatus will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of the class including a feeder-conveyor provided with an elongate feeder-auger leading portion extending linearly along a feeder-axis and being pivotably tiltably associated with a junction-box whereby the tiltably lowered feederconveyor is adapted to deliver flowable solids material from a relatively rearward trailing hopper into said junction-box, such apparatus also including a powered main-conveyor extending along a main-axis and having a trailing portion extending into and enclosed within the lower portion of the junction-box and adapted to convey flowable solids from within said junction-box to a selected depository site for said solids, and such apparatus also including inter-conveyors power transmission means operably extending from the main-conveyor to the tiltable feeder-auger whereby said feederauger is powerable when the trailing hopper is in a substantially horizontal lowered position, the improvement comprising: the junction-box being provided with an upper opening adapted to receive therethrough flowable solids from the feeder-auger forward delivery outlet, the pivotably tiltable connection between the feeder-auger leading portion and the junction-box extending transversely along a pivot-axis located loftily above the main-conveyor enclosed portion, the forward delivery outlet of said feeder-auger through a continuous range of pivotably tiltable positions therefor being capable of delivering flowable solids through the junction-box upper opening so as to fall downwardly upon the main-conveyor enclosed trailing portion, the inter-conveyors power transmission means commencing from the main-conveyor externally of the enclosed portion thereof comprising universal joint means disposed in elevation substantially at said pivotaxis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivot-axis is located above the junction-box upper opening; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means comprises a plurality of serially connected universal joints including a first-joint disposed in elevation substantially at said pivot-axis.

3. The tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feeder-conveyor includes an elongate hopper-auger that is revolvably supported within and lies substantially longitudinally parallel to the hopper; wherein the elongate feeder-auger has a tubular feeder housing, the rearward trailing portion thereof being attached at a fixed angular relationship to the hopper forward portion whereby the feeder-auger extends linearly upwardly and forwardly of the hopper when the hopper is in substantially horizontal lowered position, the feeder-auger trailing portion being connected with the hopper-auger with an intervening universal joint.

4. The tiltable hopper apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are hydraulically actuatable piston means for pivotably tilting the feeder-auger about said pivot-axis, said piston means extending from a forward portion of the junction-box to a yoke pivotably associated with a rearward portion of the junction-box, there being an elongate lifting-arm pivotably attached to the yoke and also slidably associated along a tubular feeder housing for the feederauger.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there are degree-of-tilt regulation means for the feeder-auger and comprising an adjustability feature for the liftingarm adjacent its pivotal connection to the yoke; and wherein there are stroke dissipation means for the hydraulic cylinder actuatably extending from the yoke toward an underlying support for the junction-box.

6. The tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main-conveyor is a main-auger passing through the junction-box whereby the main-auger trailing end is located rearwardly of its said junction-box enclosed portion; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means commences from' the mainauger rearwardly of the junction box and extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom whereby that portion comprising universal joint means is located nearer to the junction-box upper end than to the main-auger enclosed trailing portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein there is a firstshaft revolvably secured to the junction-box upper portion, said first-shaft remaining parallel to and being corotatable with the main-auger; wherein the feederauger has a tubular housing intersecting the said pivotaxis; wherein there is a second-shaft revolvably associated with the feeder-auger housing and remaining in parallelism with the feeder-auger, said second-shaft being co-rotatable with the feeder-auger; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means further comprises a pair of serially connected universal joints actuatably extending from the first-shaft to the secondshaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein sprockets and chains rearwardly of the junction-box provide corotatability between the first-shaft and the main-auger; and wherein sprockets and chain forwardly of the feeder-auger leading end provide co-rotatability between the second-shaft and the feeder-auger. 

1. In a tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of the class including a feeder-conveyor provided with an elongate feederauger leading portion extending linearly along a feeder-axis and being pivotably tiltably associated with a junction-box whereby the tiltably lowered feeder-conveyor is adapted to deliver flowable solids material from a relatively rearward trailing hopper into said junction-box, such apparatus also including a powered main-conveyor extending along a main-axis and having a trailing portion extending into and enclosed within the lower portion of the junction-box and adapted to convey flowable solids from within said junction-box to a selected depository site for said solids, and such apparatus also including inter-conveyors power transmission means operably extending from the mainconveyor to the tiltable feeder-auger whereby said feeder-auger is powerable when the trailing hopper Is in a substantially horizontal lowered position, the improvement comprising: the junction-box being provided with an upper opening adapted to receive therethrough flowable solids from the feeder-auger forward delivery outlet, the pivotably tiltable connection between the feeder-auger leading portion and the junction-box extending transversely along a pivot-axis located loftily above the main-conveyor enclosed portion, the forward delivery outlet of said feeder-auger through a continuous range of pivotably tiltable positions therefor being capable of delivering flowable solids through the junction-box upper opening so as to fall downwardly upon the main-conveyor enclosed trailing portion, the inter-conveyors power transmission means commencing from the main-conveyor externally of the enclosed portion thereof comprising universal joint means disposed in elevation substantially at said pivot-axis.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivot-axis is located above the junction-box upper opening; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means comprises a plurality of serially connected universal joints including a first-joint disposed in elevation substantially at said pivot-axis.
 3. The tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feeder-conveyor includes an elongate hopper-auger that is revolvably supported within and lies substantially longitudinally parallel to the hopper; wherein the elongate feeder-auger has a tubular feeder housing, the rearward trailing portion thereof being attached at a fixed angular relationship to the hopper forward portion whereby the feeder-auger extends linearly upwardly and forwardly of the hopper when the hopper is in substantially horizontal lowered position, the feeder-auger trailing portion being connected with the hopper-auger with an intervening universal joint.
 4. The tiltable hopper apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are hydraulically actuatable piston means for pivotably tilting the feeder-auger about said pivot-axis, said piston means extending from a forward portion of the junction-box to a yoke pivotably associated with a rearward portion of the junction-box, there being an elongate lifting-arm pivotably attached to the yoke and also slidably associated along a tubular feeder housing for the feeder-auger.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there are degree-of-tilt regulation means for the feeder-auger and comprising an adjustability feature for the lifting-arm adjacent its pivotal connection to the yoke; and wherein there are stroke dissipation means for the hydraulic cylinder actuatably extending from the yoke toward an underlying support for the junction-box.
 6. The tiltable hopper elevator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main-conveyor is a main-auger passing through the junction-box whereby the main-auger trailing end is located rearwardly of its said junction-box enclosed portion; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means commences from the main-auger rearwardly of the junction box and extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom whereby that portion comprising universal joint means is located nearer to the junction-box upper end than to the main-auger enclosed trailing portion.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein there is a first-shaft revolvably secured to the junction-box upper portion, said first-shaft remaining parallel to and being co-rotatable with the main-auger; wherein the feeder-auger has a tubular housing intersecting the said pivot-axis; wherein there is a second-shaft revolvably associated with the feeder-auger housing and remaining in parallelism with the feeder-auger, said second-shaft being co-rotatable with the feeder-auger; and wherein the inter-conveyors power transmission means further comprises a pair of serially connected universal joints actuatably extending from the first-shaft to the second-shaft.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein sprockets and chains rearwardly of the junction-box provide co-rotatability between the first-shaft and the main-auger; and wherein sprockets and chain forwardly of the feeder-auger leading end provide co-rotatability between the second-shaft and the feeder-auger. 